Game



April 21, 1925. V 1,534,599

J. M CL ENNAN ET AL GAME Filed July 11, 1922 s Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG a.

FIB Z.

IN VEN T 0R James M Z enrmnu Edward J Peas? HI-err 4.110 r 11 e April 21, 1925. 9 1,934,599

J. MOLENNAN ET AL GAME FiledoJuly 11, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 INVENTURS James M Z. ennarfiuEdu ara]: eas? 9, WMH WW their affarneq April 21, 1925. J. M LENNAN ET AL GAM E 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 11, 1922 :-E 132E QSEEL $3523 0 o o o o rhrw INVENTURS James M- L enmnlz Idwm-AJI Peas? 73. Wrw

Patented Apr. 21, 1925.

Uhil'i'fi STAT JAMES MCLENNAN, .OFPOLAND, .AND EDEVARD J. PEASE, OF 'NILES, OHIO.

GAME.

Application filed July 11, 1922.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern:-

Be it known that we, JAMES MCLENNAN and EDWARD J. Pnnsmboth citizens of the Un tec States, residing, respectively, at-Po- T land, in the county ot'Trumbull and State oi Ohio, and Niles,.in the county of Tram bull and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in a Game, of which the following is a specification;

This invention relates to a' game device.

The objectof the invention is to provide a device with which an intellectual game may be played either in competition or as a form of solitaire; such game-being" suscep .13 tible :ofnumerousvariations: 1n :the actual playing. thereot. 4

in the accompanying drawings Figure l is an isometric plan View of one arrange ment of the device, showing the elements thereof in proper position tor beginning a game; Figure 2- is a similar View" illustrating the first step in. playing agame either in competition or as solitaire; Figure 3 is an isometric view of one'o l the pieces forming elements of the device; Figure t is an isometric plan view illustrating an alternative form of the device embodying a diii'er ent arrangement and character of the pieces forming elements oftheudevice; Figure 5 is a similar View illustrating another modification in the character and arrangement of the pieces; Figure. Glis a similar view illustrating a still further modification in their charactcrand arrangement; and F igure 7- is a detail view of means for moving pieces tormedas shown in Figures 4,. 5, and G.

The device as shown in Figures land 2' ot the drawings comprises a box or containcr B of su table depth. to receive a set of blocks C. On the inner side of the lid D of the box are a chart island a pivoted pointer or needle F arranged to cooperate with the chart.

.ln this variation of the device the blocks C are numbered consecutively from l'to l5,

Serial No. 574,152.

pointout two numbered spaces in th'e ring G; The 0 block is then removedffrom the box and theindicatedehange or changes in the position of the blocksis'made.

In one manner of playing the game the two blocks bearing the numbers indicated by the pointer are transposed in their positions in the box or container'B. Thus in the position of the pointer shownin Figure 2, the positions of the blocks numbered t 2 and 1O are transposed. The object ofjthe game is then to restore these blocks to'their original position in sequence by" sliding them in the container, and without lifting them from the container. by the removal of the 0 block obviously permitting the shitting'and rearrangement of the blocks one at a time in effecting the desired restoration. The object is not atta'ned until not only are the displaceclblocks re stored to position, but'the other blocks havev also been finally shifted into their proper positions in sequence.

lVith the arrangementshown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawingsthe game may be played to restore the-blocks to positionsimply in the least number of moves, the shifting of any one of the blocks into the space vacant at any particular moment counting as a move. It desired. however, the object may be to restore the blocks to position in less than a total number of moves, this total being secured by the addition ot the: two numbers indicated by theseries Ton the chart F outside the ring G thereon. In the latter instance a players score is con puted by subtracting-the number of moves actually expended from the fillOttQCllllllllbQl in. the series T indicated by the'pointer l1.

The game may also be played with the-arrangement oiligures l and? ofthe drawings by merely shitting one ofthe blocksthe number of Whichis indicatedb'y the lli) pointer into the exact space left vacant by the removal of the 0 block. In such case the score of the player shifting the pieces is the difference between the number of moves indicated by the end of the pointer opposite to that indicating the designating or serial number of the block which is to be shifted and the number of moves actually expended in restoring the blocks to relative sequential position.

It will be noted, for example, that if either of the blocks 12 or 15 is indicated, the player who has designated such block by his spinning of the pointer F scores a large number of points.

It should be noted that all of the blocks C are provided ontheir upper face with a button or finger hold fl, to provide a convenient handle for lifting the blocks in their transposition and for sliding the blocks in working them into their proper position in sequence.

In Figure 4 of the drawings there is shown a modification or variation of the device which combines the general features of the device as previously described with the general features of a picture puzzle. This modification or variation of the device comprises a box or container B similar to the box or container previously described. A pointer or needle F is also similarly mounted to be spun on a pivot pin in the lid D of the box. Concentric with the pivot pin of the pointer or needle F is an annular chart 8, which is divided into a plurality of sections, each of these sections containing a designating number which corresponds to the designating number on one of the blocks or pieces K which fill the box or container It should be noted that the blocks or pieces are not arranged in such order that the numbers thereon run in regular sequence throughout the set. When in proper position in the container 13, however, all of the numbered blocks or pieces K together form the outline map of the United States. There are one or more blank blocks or pieces, specially designated K which bear neither any lines going to form the map itself nor any designating number.

In playing the game the pointer or needle K is spun and the two pieces indicated thereby are transposed in their positions in the container B. One or more of the blank blocks K are then removed from the container to allow space to shift the blocks slidably. In attempting to restore the dis-- placed blocks to proper position the map is completely disintegrated. The game thus presents the additional intricacy and difficulty of a picture puzzle. The difficulty of the game may be decreased, if so desired, by removing two or more of the blank blocks instead of a single one thereof.

It will be noted that the chart J is not shown as provided with any numbers apaortioning a definite number of moves. buch numbers may be added to the chart, equally as well as in the form of the device illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, and are preferably so added.

It will be understood that instead of a map of the United States, a map of a Stateor foreign country, or a picture device or T arranged in sequence, and a plurality of blank filler blocks L On the lid B a pointer E mounted similarly to the point ers of the other variations of the device, and an annular chart M concentric with the mounting of the pointer E. The annular chart M is divided into twelve sections; each of which bears the name of a month of the year.

In Figure 5 of the drawings the pointer is shown as having been spun, and as inclicating the transposition of the blocks L bearing the names of January and July. The game as provided with these special blocks is played in the same manner as with the blocks C and J; that is, the blocks are shifted without being lifted from the container until all the months of the year are arranged in sequence, and the number of moves necessary in effecting this rearrangement counted.

It should be noted that this variation or modification of the device presents an educational value, which renders it peculiarly suited to use by children. The provision of three blank filler blocks, and the relatively small number of significant blocks, renders the rearrangementof the blocks L less difficult than the rearrangement of the blocks C and J in the previously described variations of the device, thus further rendering it adaptable to use by children.

The modification of variation of the device shown in Figure 6 comprises a box or container B and a pointer or needle F similar to those of the previously described modifications. The blocks or pieces N of this modification or variation, however, bear the letters of the alphabet and the sections of the annular shaft P, on the lid D are correspondingly marked. Two blank filler blocks N are shown; but it will be readily understood that the additional number of these blank blocks or pieces may be increased by the addition of either an additional vertical row of blocks or a horizontal row of blocks, with or without subtraction in the number or" blocks contained in each of the rows extending at right angles to the rows Whose number has been increased. This modification may thus be used for impressing the form and sequence of the letters of the alphabet upon the minds of relatively young children.

It is to be noted that the blocks or pieces J, L, and N of the modifications illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and G of the drawings are not provided with the finger holds H shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, but that are provided with depressions dg in their upper surface. A stylus R is provided for use with these blocks, When the blocks are to be lifted, as in transposing or displacing the significant blocks, or removing the blank filler blocks bodily from the container; the point of the stylus is inserted into the proper one of the spaces S, formed by the rounded corners of the blocks, and the blocks to be lifted is pried up out -1 the plane of the other blocks. In sliding the blocks to restore displaced blocks to proper position the point oi the stylus is inserted into the depressions e in the upper faces of the blocks.

It will be understood that the means for conveniently moving the blocks are not peculiar to the modifications with which they are shown; but that the blocks C of Fig ures 1 and 2 may be provided with depressions and shifted by means of a suitable stylus or the like, and that the blocks J, L, and M of Figures 4, 5, and 6 of the drawings may be provided with a linger hold or button similar to that shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3.

The embodiments shown or illustrative of a number of modifications and variations which may be made without departing from the central inventive idea, and the scope of the invention is therefore to be restricted only by the limitations contained in the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A game device comprising a set of men or pieces bearing distinguishing marks for arranging the same in sequence and having fixed positions within a fixed area, at least one space su'llicient to accommodate one of the pieces being left blank, the object of the game being to displace at least one of the significant or sequential pieces from position in sequence and to restore all the pieces to position in sequence without lifting any of the significant pieces from the surface on which they rest, and means for indicating by chance the displacement of such piece or pieces.

2. A game device comprising a set of men or pieces bearing distinguisl'iing marks for arranging the same in sequence and having fixed positions within a fixed area, at least one space su'tiicient to accommodate one of the pieces being left blank within such area, the object of the game being to displace at least one of the sequential or significantpieces irom position in sequence and to restore all the pieces to position in sequence without lifting any of the significant pieces from the surface on which they rest, and

means for indicating by chance the displacement of such piece or pieces and a certain number of changes of positionot the pieces for restoring the significant pieces to their original sequential position.

8. In a game device a set of men or pieces bearing distin uishing marks or numbers and also bearing marks which form a complete picture or the like when the pieces are arranged in proper sequential position with in a fixed area, such area having therein unoccupied space suiiicient to accommodate one or more of the pieces, and means for indicating by mark or number at least one of the pieces to be displaced, the object of the game being to displace the piece or pieces indicated and to restore them and the other significant pieces to position to restore the picture or the like Withoutlifting any of the pieces from the surface on which they rest.

4. A game device comprising a container, a set of men or pieces arranged to fully occupy the space within the container, said set comprising a plurality of men or pieces bearing distinguishing marks running in sequence and at least one of the men or pieces being blank to serve as a filling piece in the container, the object of the game be ing to displace at least one of the significant or sequential pieces upon removal of the blank piece or pieces to leave space within the container and to restore the sequential or significant pieces to proper sequential position without raising any of the significant pieces from the surface within the container upon which they rest; a pointer pivot-ally mounted on said container, and a dial surrounding said pointer and bearing thereon the distinguishing marks of the sequential pieces, whereby the pointer may be used to indicate the piece or" pieces to be displaced.

5. A game device comprising a container, a set of men or pieces completely occupying the area within said container, said set comprising a plurality of men or pieces bear ing distinguishing marks running in sequence and at least one oi? the men or pieces being blank to serve as a. filling piece in the container, the object of the game being to displace at least one of the significant or sequential pieces upon removal of the blank piece or pieces to leave space within the container and to restore the sequential or significant pieces to proper sequential position Without raising any of the significant pieces from the surface Within the container upon which they rest; a pointer pivotally mounted on said container, and a dial surrounding said pointer and bearing thereon the distinguishing marks of the sequential or significant pieces and certain arbitrary numbers to indicate a certain number of changes of position for restoring all the significant pieces to sequential position.

6. A game device comprising a container, :1 set of men or pieces completely occupying the area within said container, said set comprising a plurality of men or pieces bearing distinguishing marks and also bearing marks which form a complete picture or the like when the pieces are arranged in proper sequential position within the container and at least one blank man or piece to serve as a filling piece in the container, the object of the game being to displace at least one of the pieces and to restore them and the other pieces to position to restore the picture or the like; a pointer pivotally mounted on said container, and a dial surrounding said pointer and bearing thereon the distinguishing marks of the sequential pieces, whereby the pointer may be used to indicate the piece or pieces to be displaced. In witness whereof, we hereunto set our hands.

JAMES MGLENNAN. EDWARD PEASE. lVitnesses FRANK J. has, E. B. lVAL'rERs. 

